Mark D. Sickles

Mark D. Sickles

Sickles in 2011
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 43rd district
Assumed office
January 14, 2004
Preceded by Tom Bolvin
Personal details
Born ( 1957 -02-18) February 18, 1957
Arlington, Virginia
Political party Democratic
Residence Franconia, Virginia
Alma mater Clemson University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Occupation Public affairs
Committees Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Health, Welfare and Institutions
Privileges and Elections
Religion Presbyterian
Website www.marksickles.com

Mark D. Sickles (born February 18, 1957) is an American politician. He has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2004, representing the 43rd district in the Fairfax County suburbs of Washington, D.C. Sickles is a member of the Democratic Party; he has been the House minority caucus chair since 2012. He announced in a Washington Post opinion piece that he is gay. This makes him the 2nd openly gay member of the Virginia General Assembly behind Senator Adam Ebbin.[1]

Sickles has served on the House committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (2010–), Commerce and Labor (2006–2009), Health, Welfare and Institutions (2004–) and Privileges and Elections (2004–).[2]

Early life, education

Sickles was born in Arlington, Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management from Clemson University in 1981, a Master of Science in industrial management from Georgia Tech in 1984, and a second M.S. in Technology and Science Policy two years later.[1][3]

Sickles is a fellow with the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.[4]

Electoral history

In 2001, Sickles ran for the House and lost by 313 votes[5] to freshman Republican Tom Bolvin, who had defeated 11-term Democrat Gladys Keating two years earlier. Sickles had been a volunteer staffer for Keating previously.[1][4]

Sickles defeated Bolvin in a 2003 rematch, 53.8%-46.1%.[6]

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 43rd district
Nov 6, 2001[5] General T M Bolvin Republican 9,550 50.80
M D Sickles Democratic 9,237 49.14
Write Ins 12 0.06
Incumbent won; seat stayed Republican
Nov 4, 2003[6] General M D Sickles Democratic 7,159 53.79
T M Bolvin Republican 6,137 46.12
Write Ins 12 0.09
Incumbent lost; seat switched from Republican to Democratic
Nov 8, 2005[7] General M D Sickles Democratic 11,630 63.82
R Grignol Republican 6,571 36.06
Write Ins 23 0.13
Nov 6, 2007[8] General Mark D. Sickles Democratic 9,822 97.05
Write Ins 298 2.94
Nov 3, 2009[9] General Mark D. Sickles Democratic 10,363 56.13
Tim D. Nank Republican 8,081 43.77
Write Ins 17 0.09
Nov 8, 2011[10] General Mark D. Sickles Democratic 10,175 95.80
Write Ins 446 4.19

Personal life

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, which noted the striking-down in the Eastern Virginia U.S. District Court of the constitutionality of the state's ban on same-sex marriage, Sickles publicly came out as gay. This made him the second openly-LGBT member of the Virginia General Assembly, alongside Sen. Adam Ebbin, who was out before his election to the House in 2003.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bio for Mark D. Sickles". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  2. ↑ "Legislative Information System". Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  3. ↑ "Representative Mark D. Sickles (VA)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  4. 1 2 "Mark D. Sickles (D)". Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  5. 1 2 "General Election- November 6, 2001". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  6. 1 2 "General Election- November 4, 2003". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  7. ↑ "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  8. ↑ "November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  9. ↑ "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  10. ↑ "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  11. ↑ Mark D. Sickles (21 February 2014). "Virginia Del. Mark D. Sickles: A marriage ruling that counts me in". The Washington Post.
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